“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them…” [Exodus 20:3-5a]
What do I worship?
That question’s been gnawing at me this week. I think I’m starting to understand why.
In Matthew 14 there’s a familiar story in which the disciples see Jesus walking on the water toward their boat. At the end of the story (verses 32-33) Matthew tells us:
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
My question—what exactly did they DO to worship? Did someone break out a hymnal? Did they sing praise songs accompanied by a guitar? In most modern churches that’s what happens during “worship” time.
Perhaps their worship included singing—I really don’t know. But whatever they did, it’s fair to speculate that Jesus had their complete, undivided attention.
A couple of days ago I said that I’m thinking that worship consists of focused awareness. I worship God in those rare moments when He has my complete attention, when I’m focused on Him to the exclusion of everything else.
I also said I’m not very good about worshiping God. It’s not because I’m a really bad singer (I am) but because my mind wanders. I’m just not very good at remaining focused on God.
So what do I worship? I focus at various times on many things, but this week I’m noticing that one topic is frequently at the center of my personal universe.
I think I tend to worship my feelings.
I focus on my feelings. I fuss about them, try to figure them out, and often surrender control of my life to them. If focused awareness is the measure of worship, I seem to spend a good deal of time bowing at the altar of my feelings.
I’m not claiming that feelings aren’t important (they are) or that feeling should be ignored (they shouldn’t). I need to be aware of my feelings, but the first commandment demands that “You shall have no other gods before me.”
When my transitory feelings become the guiding force, the compass that determines my actions and attitudes, I place them ahead of God. When I’m more focused on my feelings than on God, my worship is misplaced and misguided.
You might guess that a particular emotion prompts these reflections, and you’d be correct. I want to dig into that tomorrow, but for now I’m just making note that feelings are one of the many things that I allow to displace God from His rightful place on my list of priorities.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds… [Ephesians 4:22-23]
Do your emotions ever take control and become the center of your world? How do you refocus?
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